Rooney out to prove Mancini right

Two goals on the cards for Wayne Rooney? © Getty Images

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists the Premier League title race is over despite seeing his side reduce Manchester United’s advantage to just five points in mid-week – and, while perhaps he’s just trying to play mind games, you sense he could well be right.

Three of United’s last five games are at home – with that crunch trip to the Etihad at the end of April about the only really difficult opponent left to contend with. The first of those home games comes against Aston Villa on Sunday. With a threadbare squad, Villa hardly look primed to pose a real problem – with Wayne Rooney looking good value at 7/4 to notch at least twice and Ashley Young an intriguing option at 9/1 to find the net against his former club.

Alternatively, an accumulator could offer a more exciting flutter. Predicting Wolves-Sunderland, Swansea-Blackburn and West Brom-QPR to all end in draws is just shy of 49/1 with bet365. A nice potential earner.

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